—
French is undoubtedly a popular language and everyone is guaranteed to know at least a few words!
It is spoken in many countries as an official language and is also an important part of several schools’ language curriculum
Even if you declare to be a French enthusiast, there are a few things that you still might not know about the language.
Let us look at a few facts about French that might actually blow your mind!
1. French Was Not the First Language In France
French is generally perceived as the first language of France, but a lot of people don’t know that it is derived from Latin.
In fact, before the 16th century, French was viewed as a strange derivative of the dominant language at the time, which was Latin.
It competed with several other languages and after the French Revolution, the government passed an official rule establishing French as the official language of France.
2. Some French Words Similar To English Have Completely Different Meanings
There are many words in the French language that sound identical to English with a difference in pronunciation.
For example, words like riche and téléphone, which mean rich and telephone, are very similar to the English versions.
However, several words sound like English but have completely different meaning altogether.
For example, four is a French word which means oven, although it sounds like it could mean the number 4.
3. French Is Relatively Easy To Learn
French might seem daunting at first, but it is easier compared to a lot of other languages!
Many words are similar to English and there are a huge number of free resources which go into detail about grammar, pronunciation and punctuation.
Their grammatical rules are also pretty consistent with fewer exceptional cases.
4. The Term ‘Baguette’ Has Different Meanings
Many people use Baguette for bread since it is used to refer to the French loaf.
Interestingly, a baguette also means chopsticks in French.
So if someone asks you if you want a baguette along with something, they could mean chopsticks – in this context, it could be a Chinese restaurant in France.
5. French Is One Of The Most Popular Language In the UK
French is one of the most taught languages in the UK and is even a compulsory subject in many institutions.
This can also be attributed to the fact that Britain has significant cultural ties with France.
6. There Are No French Words Which Use The Letter W
This is because most of the words in the French language that replicate the sound made by the letter W are denoted by ou or oi.
While the traditional French alphabet doesn’t have the W, words that are borrowed from other languages, like ‘Walloon’, use the W.
7. It Is An Official Language In Other Countries
To be more specific, it is an official language in 29 countries, including Canada!
The French spoken in some parts of Canada, like Quebec, is also referred to as the Canadian French.
In fact, learning Canadian French can be harder for native English speakers because of the difference in vowel sounds.
8. You Can ‘Rebonjour’ Someone
In France, if you see someone for the second time on the same day, you can say Rebonjour.
It sounds strange when translated into English – imagine saying “re-hello” to someone!
9. Many Famous Celebrities Know French
French is quite important in the global entertainment industry and because of this, many celebrities are well-versed in it.
Some well-known people who know French include Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper, Johnny Depp and Emma Watson.
10. It Is Known As The Language Of Love
Linguists and literature enthusiasts often call the French language the “language of love” because of its beautiful pronunciation and historic connection with French poetry, literature and art.
Many French poets and musicians were famous pioneers of love and romance.
Conclusion
If you are still intrigued, this might be the perfect time for you to start exploring the language.
There are plenty of free resources and language apps that cover everything about French, from the alphabet to grammatical rules.
—
